Well shut-in safety apparatus

ABSTRACT

An above-ground well shut-in safety apparatus, structure, and method useful for shutting-in wells during a blow-out is provided. The apparatus includes a top portion closing an upper end of an apparatus, a side wall with a long axis, a sleeve inside the side wall, and a bottom portion including an open end. A structure for shutting in a well, comprising a rig, a drive rigidly connected to the rig, and an apparatus rigidly connected to the drive, the apparatus including a tubular side wall, a top portion closing an upper end of the side wall, and a sealing sleeve inside the side wall. A method for shutting-in a well including driving an open end of an apparatus onto a stump of the well, the apparatus including a closed end opposite the open end and a tubular side wall with a sealing sleeve, and sealing the sleeve onto the stump.

BENEFIT OF EARLIER APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application62/733,464, filed Sep. 19, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to shutting-in wells generally and, inparticular, to shutting-in wells during a blow-out.

BACKGROUND

During a blow-out, fluids flow uncontrollably from the well. Duringtubular completions, the blown out fluid may flow out of the tubularstump supported at well center of the rig.

Previously, when closing a well, an operator will install a plug by handto stop fluids from passing up through the string and being released atthe stump. The plug used for installation in the stump is called asafety valve or a stabbing valve. The safety valve has a threadedconnection that threads into the stump's exposed threaded connection andan integral valve that can be opened or closed to open the innerdiameter of the pipe string at the stump. Typically, the safety valve isset on the rig work floor and must be manually lifted into place or thesafety valve is suspended on a cable from a tugger winch and must behoisted into position, if needed.

This is a dangerous, labor- and time-intensive method and apparatus forshutting in a blown-out well, which presents risks of injury tooperators, damage to property, and pollution of the environment.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention, there isprovided An apparatus for shutting-in a well, comprising: a top portionclosing an upper end of the apparatus; a side wall with a long axis; asleeve inside the side wall; and a bottom portion including an open end.

In accordance with another broad aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a structure for shutting-in a well, comprising: a rig; adrive rigidly connected to the rig; an apparatus rigidly connected tothe drive, the apparatus including: a tubular side wall with a long axisand an open end; a top portion closing an upper end of the side wall;and a sealing sleeve inside the side wall.

In accordance with yet another broad aspect of the present invention,there is provided a method for shutting in a well, comprising: drivingan open end of an apparatus onto a stump of the well, the apparatusincluding a tubular side wall with a long axis and an open end; a topportion closing an upper end of the side wall; and a sealing sleeveinside the side wall; and sealing the sleeve onto the stump.

It is to be understood that other aspects of the present invention willbecome readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdetailed description, wherein various embodiments of the invention areshown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, theinvention is capable of other and different embodiments and its severaldetails are capable of modification in various other respects, allwithin the present invention. Furthermore, the various embodimentsdescribed may be combined, mutatis mutandis, with other embodimentsdescribed herein. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description areto be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further, detailed, description of the invention, briefly describedabove, will follow by reference to the following drawings of specificembodiments of the invention. These drawings depict only typicalembodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be consideredlimiting of its scope. In the drawings:

(a) FIG. 1 is a top view of a shut-in safety apparatus;

(b) FIG. 2 is a cross section of a shut-in safety apparatus alongsection line A-A of FIG. 1;

(c) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shut-in safety apparatus;

(d) FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the apparatus in an elevated positionabove the stump; and

(e) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the apparatus in a lower positionconnected atop the stump.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of thepresent invention and is not intended to represent the only embodimentscontemplated by the inventor. The detailed description includes specificdetails for the purpose of providing a comprehensive understanding ofthe present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that the present invention may be practiced without thesespecific details.

The invention is an above-ground well shut-in safety apparatus. Theapparatus may be lowered (for example, driven down) onto a stump to shutin a well. As noted above, the problem the invention is directed toovercome is that currently there are only dangerous, labor- andtime-intensive apparatuses and methods for shutting in a blown-out well.The invention is used to shut-in wells generally, and to shut-inblown-out wells in particular. The apparatus overcomes the identifiedproblem by allowing an operator to remotely shut-in the well, thusavoiding human injury. In addition to promoting safety, the apparatusadvantageously allows for faster shut-in procedures for wells ingeneral, and blown-out wells in particular. With reference to FIGS. 1-5,the invention provides a safety shut-in apparatus 100, which may beconnected into a structure with a drive 200 on a rig 220. Stump 210 maybe supported in the rig floor at well center WC.

The apparatus 100 may have a substantially cylindrical shape, with a topportion 10, a tubular for example cylindrical side wall 20 defining acenter, long axis x concentric with the side wall, and a bottom portion30. The top portion 10 may close an upper end of the apparatus. Thecylindrical side wall 20 may extend between the top portion and thebottom portion. The apparatus 100 may have a cap-like structure with thetop portion creating an upper wall 10 a spanning the side wall, therebydefining chamber 37 within the top portion. The bottom portion 30 maydefine an open end 28 selected to fit over stump 210, for example sizedto have an open inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of thestump 210. The apparatus may be able to accommodate stumps of variousouter diameters less than the open inner diameter of the open end 28,thereby overcoming limits on stump details such as thread configurationor stump outer diameter.

The apparatus may be moveable, for example along arrows B, from anelevated position away from the stump 210 to a position lowered over theupper end 212 of the stump 210. In the lower position, the stump extendsup through open end 28 and side wall 20 sleeves down over the outside ofthe upper end 212 of the stump 210.

Open end 28 may be surrounded by a lead-in 31 in the shape of a cone,for example a downwardly flaring funnel. The lead-in 31 may act as aguide leading toward the inner diameter 26 of wall 20. The lead-in 31may be useful to guide the apparatus relative to the stump toaccommodate imprecise alignment between the apparatus and stump 210during movement (arrows B).

Because of the force of fluid passing out of the stump during blow-outconditions, it will be appreciated that it may be useful to have ahold-down mechanism to hold the other components of the apparatus inplace on the stump. For example, the apparatus may include a structureto physically engage an outer diameter of a stump of the well to preventaxial displacement therefrom. The structure may be, for example, aclamp.

Alternatively or in addition, a drive for the apparatus may beconfigured to hold the apparatus down. Apparatus 100, for example, maybe connected to a drive 200 to move it up and down relative to the rigfloor, where stump 210 is supported, and possibly to hold it downagainst the force of a blow-out. In particular as noted, during wellboreoperations, stump 210 is supported in the rig floor at well center WCand the drive supports the apparatus above the well center WC, forexample with axis x substantially aligned with WC. The drive 200 may bea vertically and laterally moveable, but releasably lockable in aselected position, which is referenced herein as a “rigid” drive system.The drive 200 may be rigidly, but moveably, connected to a rig 220. Forgreater clarity, rigid used herein means, for example, that the drive isvertically, and possibly laterally, positionally fixable, withinflexible connections to the rig and to the apparatus and issubstantially not influenced by gravity, as opposed to awinch/cable-type or freely slidable drive that operates on gravity andits weight and can be lifted vertically even when not driven by thewinch if sufficient force is applied upwardly. As such, drive 200 isoperable to move up and down on rig along well center, and is capable offorcing the apparatus down for example directly from an idle positionalong WC onto stump 210, while keeping axis x and WC substantiallyaligned. Further, drive 200 is capable of forcing the apparatus downonto stump 210 and holding it down even against the sufficient force ofa blow-out. Examples of such a suitable drive system are, for example, apower swivel, a top drive, or other apparatus carrier with a moveablebut releasably lockable connection to the rig.

The apparatus may be secured to the drive for movement with the drive.Therefore, apparatus 100 may include one or more connections to drive200 such that the apparatus can be lowered and held down, for exampleforced down, onto a well stump. For example, one such connection may bean inflexible center connection, such as a threaded connection 11 on topportion 10. Alternatively or in addition, there may be one or more rigidconnections such as one or more anchor points 15 positioned on the topportion or side wall 20, distanced from axis x.

Optional threaded connection 11 renders apparatus 100 connectable todrive 200. Threaded connection 11 may protrude upwardly out of the topportion 10 near the axial center of the apparatus. Threaded connection11 may be concentric with axis x and may be configured for threadedconnection to a center stem on drive 200.

Anchor points 15 may be configured to create a rigid connection betweenthe drive 200 and the apparatus. The anchor points may be offset andnon-concentric relative to axis x such that they are not affected bytorqueing around axis x. For example, torque will affect connection 11,which is concentric with axis x, but each anchor point 15 is offset fromthe center axis to mitigate torqueing release at connection 11. Anchorpoints 15 are positioned radially outward from connection 11 and may bein an extension that protrudes laterally from top portion 10 or sidewall 20 beyond the outer diameter of the side wall. In one embodiment,each anchor point 15 includes an aperture extending top to bottomthrough the extension thereby forming an eye. A vertical side arm on thedrive 200 can be secured in the anchor point.

In one embodiment, therefore, there is no rigid connection between theapparatus and the stump. Instead, the apparatus is held in place againstthe force of the blow-out by rigid connections (i) between the apparatusand the drive, and (ii) between the drive and the rig.

Top portion 10 may include a port 13 extending from inner area 26 to theexterior of the apparatus. Port 13, therefore, permits outlet of fluidfrom the internal area 26 of the apparatus and permits connection to aflow line, such that blow-out fluids can be released from the apparatusin a controlled manner and, for example, directed to a tank.

The port 13 may be configured for connection to a fluid conduit of thedrive 200 or the rig. The port 13 may be configured as an outlet toallow fluid to exit an internal area 26 of the apparatus. For example,the fluid conduit may be configured to direct fluid from port 13 to astorage tank. The top port 13 may be integral with connection 11. Topport 13 may include threads, thereby also defining connection 11. In oneembodiment, port 13 and the threaded connection 11 are combined with theside walls of the port threaded to accept a connection with aninflexible pipe extend from the lower end of drive 200.

There may be a seal carried within the side wall 20 and, when theapparatus is lowered (for example, driven) down over the stump, the sealmay be set to create an annular, fluid tight seal between the side walland the outer diameter of the stump to stop fluid flows from leaking outfrom open end 28. The seal may be, for example, a rubber seal sleeve 21may be inside the side wall 20. The rubber sleeve 21 may include an openinner side 23 substantially concentric with the long axis x. Rubbersleeve 21 may include an outer side 25, being the side of the sleeveopposite the open inner side 23. Outer side 25 and side wall 20 maydefine therebetween an annular chamber 27. In other words, the apparatusmay include annular chamber 27 between side wall 20 and outer side 25.

The sleeve may have a top end and a bottom end. The ends of the sleevemay be configured to create a seal with the top portion, the cylindricalside wall, the bottom portion, or a combination thereof, such thatannular chamber is sealed from internal area 26 and can contain ahydraulic fluid. The top end of the sleeve may be configured to create aseal with the top portion. The bottom end may be configured to create aseal with the bottom end. The top end, the bottom end, or both, may beconfigured to create a seal with the side wall.

There may be a groove within the side wall in which sleeve 21 isinstalled. The groove may be annular around axis x. In one embodiment,the groove is defined between a lower shoulder 33 and upper wall 10 a.For example, there may be shoulder 33 above lead-in 31 and a return 34forming an annular lip extending radially upward from the shoulder 33. Alower limit 35 of the groove may be defined between side wall 20 andreturn 34. The bottom end of the sleeve may be fit snugly behind return34 to create a fluid tight seal at the lower end of sleeve 21. There mayalso be a second return 36 forming a second annular lip extending downfrom upper wall 10 a. An upper limit 37 of the groove may be definedbetween side wall 20 and second return 36. The top end of the sleeve maybe fit snugly within the upper limit of the groove and may thereby forma seal. Returns 34, 36 prevent the seal from extruding out of theapparatus and ensure annular chamber 27 is sealed off from inner area26.

In one embodiment, rubber seal sleeve 21 may be actuable to move from aneutral position radially inwardly toward axis x. For example, sleeve 21may be actuated by hydraulics through a hydraulic drive 22. Hydraulicdrive 22 may be connected to hydraulic fluid ports 29, being portsthrough the cylindrical side wall 20, allowing fluid communicationbetween the hydraulic drive and the annular chamber. In use, thehydraulic drive may introduce hydraulic pressure to the annular chamber,causing the sleeve to squeeze radially inwardly to change the innerdiameter of sleeve from a neutral inner diameter that is about the samesize as the inner diameter across open end 28 and a constricted innerdiameter, smaller than the inner diameter across open end 28. Thus,while sleeve can be retracted and permit easy sleeving of the apparatusover the stump, the seal thereafter can be squeezed in and make anannular seal about a circumference of the stump.

In one embodiment, the apparatus 100 comprises the following components:

-   -   a cylindrical side wall 20 defining a long, center axis therein,        the lower end of the side wall being open and thus creating an        open end 28;    -   a top portion 10 closing the upper end of the side wall 20;    -   a plurality of connections for connecting to a drive system        including a central connection 11 about a port 13 and two anchor        points 15 diametrically opposed and offset relative to center        axis and the central connection. The anchor points protrude        outwardly from the top portion and are configured to accept a        rigid connection between the drive system and the apparatus        which. Being offset from connection 11, anchor points 15 ensure        the apparatus is held against torqueing around connection 11;    -   a rubber seal sleeve 21 inside the cylindrical side wall, the        sleeve including        -   an open inner side 23 substantially aligned with the long            axis,        -   an outer side 25,        -   an annular chamber 27 between the sleeve and the side wall,            and        -   the ends of the sleeve are configured to create seals            against the side wall, which seals define the upper and            lower limits of the annular chamber and seal chamber 27 from            communication with the open inner side of the sleeve;        -   the rubber seal sleeve is actuable by hydraulics acting in            chamber 27 to be squeezed radially inwardly, thus hydraulic            fluid ports 29 may be provided through the cylindrical side            wall to the chamber;        -   a lead-in 31 (also known as a stripper or guide) is            connected at open end 28 and is in the shape of a cone,            forming a funnel flaring out from end 28, which acts as a            guide leading toward the inner diameter 26 of the rubber            seal sleeve and accommodates imprecise alignment between the            apparatus and the blown-out well;        -   and        -   seals 24 may be present elsewhere (e.g., seals between the            portions, redundant seals) to prevent leakage.

A rig, on which the apparatus can be useful, includes drive 200configured to move up and down relative to the rig floor, where duringoperations the stump protrudes. The drive may be installed and limitedlaterally to move up and down along well center and have a neutralposition aligned with well center. The drive is rigidly connected to therig, which means is moveable along the rig, but releasably lockable in avertical position above the rig floor. The apparatus is rigidlyconnected through connection 11 and anchor points 15 to the drive 200.

In use, the apparatus, according to any one or combinations ofembodiments described above, is idle unless the well blows out, or iffor any reason the well is to be shut in. The apparatus may be connectedto drive 200 on the rig above floor 230. While idle, the apparatus issuspended above and spaced from the stump of the well, for example, asshown in FIG. 4, by drive 200. To shut in the well, an operator mayremotely use the drive to cause the apparatus to move down along wellcenter (arrows B) onto the stump 210. As the apparatus moves down ontothe stump, lead-in 31 may abut against the stump and guide the apparatusonto the stump. The drive, the apparatus, or both may be laterallymoveable to facilitate such guidance. As the apparatus moves down, theopen end 28 of the apparatus is placed over and surrounds the stump. Theapparatus is in its lowered position when the apparatus is lowered suchthat the top of the stump is at least within the top portion 10. Once inthe lowered position, sleeve 21 may surround the stump and form a sealwith the stump. In use, hydraulic pressure may be introduced to theapparatus behind the sleeve in the annular chamber to cause the sleeveto squeeze inwardly in diameter and make a seal against the stump, suchthat any blown out fluid cannot exit from end 28. Such fluid may exitport 13 and be directed out of the apparatus.

The rigid drive system supports the proper functioning of the apparatus,as it allows the apparatus to be driven onto the stump and held downtowards the rig floor 230 against the force of blowing out fluid. Thiscan be done without a person approaching the well as the drive can beoperated remotely. There is no connection between the apparatus and thestump.

Once held onto the stump with sleeve 21 creating a seal, the apparatusis in its shut-in position as illustrated in FIG. 5 and the well is shutin. Any fluid passing up through stump can exit through port 13.Optionally, such fluid can be directed through piping for example upthrough drive 200. Such fluid may be sealed within the chamber 37 withinthe top portion 10.

CLAUSES

Clause 1. An apparatus for shutting-in a well, comprising: a top portionclosing an upper end of the apparatus; a side wall with a long axis; asleeve inside the side wall; and a bottom portion including an open end.

Clause 2. The apparatus of any one or more of clauses 1-18, wherein theside wall is cylindrical.

Clause 3. The apparatus of any one or more of clauses 1-18, wherein thesleeve is made of a material selected to create a seal.

Clause 4. The apparatus of any one or more of clauses 1-18, furthercomprising an annular chamber between the sleeve and the side wall.

Clause 5. The apparatus of any one or more of clauses 1-18, wherein theannular chamber is formed between the sleeve and a groove within theside wall.

Clause 6. The apparatus of any one or more of clauses 1-18, furthercomprising a connection on the top portion, the connection connectableto a drive, the drive being for driving the apparatus onto the well.

Clause 7. The apparatus of any one or more of clauses 1-18, wherein theconnection includes one or more anchor points positioned radiallyoutward from the top portion.

Clause 8. The apparatus of any one or more of clauses 1-18, wherein theconnection includes a threadable connection concentric with the longaxis.

Clause 9. The apparatus of any one or more of clauses 1-18, wherein thetop portion further includes a port; the drive further includes a fluidconduit connectable to the port, the fluid conduit and the port beingconfigured to allow fluid to flow out of the apparatus.

Clause 10. The apparatus of any one or more of clauses 1-18, furthercomprising a rig; and a drive rigidly connected to the rig, the topportion being connectable to the drive.

Clause 11. The apparatus of any one or more of clauses 1-18, wherein thedrive is one or more of a power swivel, a top drive, and an apparatuscarrier.

Clause 12. The apparatus of any one or more of clauses 1-18, furthercomprising a structure to physically engage a stump of the well.

Clause 13. A structure for shutting-in a well, comprising: a rig; adrive rigidly connected to the rig; an apparatus rigidly connected tothe drive, the apparatus including: a tubular side wall with a long axisand an open end; a top portion closing an upper end of the side wall;and a sealing sleeve inside the side wall.

Clause 14. A method for shutting-in a well, comprising: driving an openend of an apparatus onto a stump of the well, the apparatus including atubular side wall with a long axis and an open end; a top portionclosing an upper end of the side wall; and a sealing sleeve inside theside wall; and sealing the sleeve onto the stump.

Clause 15. The method of any one or more of clauses 1-18, whereinsealing includes hydraulically sealing.

Clause 16. The method of any one or more of clauses 1-18, furthercomprising guiding the open end of the apparatus onto the stump using alead-in on the bottom portion.

Clause 17. The method of any one or more of clauses 1-18, furthercomprising connecting the apparatus to a drive.

Clause 18. The method of any one or more of clauses 1-18, furthercomprising releasing fluid from the well via a port on the top portion.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to make or use the presentinvention. Various modifications to those embodiments will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to beaccorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference toan element in the singular, such as by use of the article “a” or “an” isnot intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated,but rather “one or more”. All structural and functional equivalents tothe elements of the various embodiments described throughout thedisclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinaryskill in the art are intended to be encompassed by the elements of theclaims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicatedto the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitlyrecited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under theprovisions of 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element isexpressly recited using the phrase “means for” or “step for”.

1. An apparatus for shutting-in a well, comprising: a top portion closing an upper end of the apparatus; a side wall with a long axis; a sleeve inside the side wall; and a bottom portion including an open end.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the side wall is cylindrical.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is made of a material selected to create a seal.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an annular chamber between the sleeve and the side wall.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the annular chamber is formed between the sleeve and a groove within the side wall.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connection on the top portion, the connection connectable to a drive, the drive being for driving the apparatus onto the well.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the connection includes one or more anchor points positioned radially outward from the top portion.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the connection includes a threadable connection concentric with the long axis.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the top portion further includes a port; the drive further includes a fluid conduit connectable to the port, the fluid conduit and the port being configured to allow fluid to flow out of the apparatus.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rig; and a drive rigidly connected to the rig, the top portion being connectable to the drive.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the drive is one or more of a power swivel, a top drive, and an apparatus carrier.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a structure to physically engage a stump of the well.
 13. A structure for shutting-in a well, comprising: a rig; a drive rigidly connected to the rig; an apparatus rigidly connected to the drive, the apparatus including: a tubular side wall with a long axis and an open end; a top portion closing an upper end of the side wall; and a sealing sleeve inside the side wall.
 14. A method for shutting-in a well, comprising: driving an open end of an apparatus onto a stump of the well, the apparatus including a tubular side wall with a long axis and an open end; a top portion closing an upper end of the side wall; and a sealing sleeve inside the side wall; and sealing the sleeve onto the stump.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein sealing includes hydraulically sealing.
 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising guiding the open end of the apparatus onto the stump using a lead-in on the bottom portion.
 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting the apparatus to a drive.
 18. The method of claim 14, further comprising releasing fluid from the well via a port on the top portion. 